Adventures at home and abroad

The Birks of Aberfeldy

Between Christmas and New Year we spent three nights in Aberfeldy in Highland Perthshire. The Birks (birch trees) of Aberfeldy is a famous walk, and also the subject of a Robert Burns song, a few words of which you can just about make out on the Breadalbane Stag above (Breadalbane being the name of the wider area).

The walk itself is a steep climb up one side of the Moness Burn and down the other. It’s the third time we’ve done it, the first being at a similar time of year in 2009, but with much more snow. Check out the two photos of Burns’ statue to see the difference! This year Rabbie, like the stag, has been decorated for Christmas.

2009

2017

I actually preferred walking on the deeper snow – it was more stable. In 2017, a thin covering of snow, followed by rain which froze over night, meant we slithered up and down to the Falls of Moness. Again, compare and contrast – in 2009 the Falls are frozen.

2009

2017

Black Spout

Another circular walk starts in Pitlochry, taking you past Black Spout waterfall and the Edradour Distillery (sadly, closed to visitors in the winter – a warming dram would have been nice).

Black Spout

Edradour Distillery

Falls of Acharn

Yet another waterfall, this time above Loch Tay. Again, we slithered up one side of a gorge and down the other. The Falls are seen by walking through a so-called “Hermit’s Cave”, in reality an artificial structure built in the 1760s by the 3rd Earl of Breadalbane in order to conceal the view until the last minute. Some of these pictures look almost black and white but they are definitely in colour!

Hermit’s Cave

Hermit’s Cave

Falls of Acharn

Viewing balcony

Falls of Acharn

Viewing platform

River Tay at Kenmore

Kenmore Hotel

No waterfalls in this walk! Kenmore is a model village built by the Lairds of Breadalbane. After lunch in the Kenmore Hotel, which dates from 1572, we walked downhill past Taymouth Castle gates.

Taymouth Castle gates

Taymouth Castle gates

Crossing the bridge over the Tay, we could see the back of the hotel, with its modern extension, on the other bank.

Bridge over the Tay

Kenmore Hotel from river

We walked along the river as far as a Gothic folly named Maxwell’s Temple, built by Lord Breadalbane in 1831 as a tribute to his wife Mary.

Maxwell’s Tower

Maxwell’s Tower

Returning through the village, we passed the church, white timbered cottages built by the 3rd Earl in 1760, and the Post Office which still advertises itself as a Telegraph Office (zoom in above door).

Kenmore Church

Kenmore Post Office

Kenmore cottages

Aberfeldy

Should you ever need to visit Aberfeldy, we can recommend the Townhouse Hotel: comfortable rooms, a great breakfast and pleasant staff.

Townhouse Hotel, Aberfeldy

Townhouse Hotel, Aberfeldy

Townhouse Hotel, Aberfeldy

We ate in the hotel the first night and set out to explore on the other two – not that we got far: The Three Lemons was just across the road. We had a lovely dinner on night 2, but liked the look of the pizzas on the next table so much that we went back on night 3 to try them. Delicious!

Three Lemons, Aberfeldy

Three Lemons, Aberfeldy

Linked to Jo’s Monday Walks, which this week comes from Lisbon and is a much sunnier prospect than Aberfeldy.

80 thoughts on “The Birks of Aberfeldy (and other walks)”

I’m always impressed how hardy you two are, going out on walks in such challenging weather! I love Maxwell’s Tower and the picture of the viewing platform, as well as the white trees in the Falls of Acharn. Good for you for getting out in the midst of winter. My tendency is to never want to leave the house, even though I hate summer and say I love the cold. 🙂